Michelle Darris ‘18

Journalism Major
Philosophy Minor

"I decided to attend SJC because it was one of the (if not the only) schools in NYC that had rolling admissions and offered journalism as a major. My decision to actually go through with following my dream of living in New York came later than most schools would accommodate to, so it was wonderful to have St. Joseph's be more than welcoming.

"My experience thus far at the college has exceeded my expectations, there is always help readily-available whether it be needed for schoolwork or personal matters.

"Aside from the academic and career goals that I am pursuing through SJC, I joined The Spirit newspaper in hopes of giving people new perspective and making a difference in my time here at the College."

"After graduating from SJC, I plan to attend graduate school to pursue my career as a journalist. Aside from the academic and career goals that I am pursuing through SJC, I joined The Spirit newspaper in hopes of giving people new perspective and making a difference in my time here at the College.

"I've always loved watching documentaries but quickly found that I have a knack for writing rather than videography, so journalism was the natural choice for me. Fueled by one too many chick flicks, my vision of a dream life as a kid involved living in NYC as a fashion writer. Since then my dream career has evolved to a more refined ideal, although I did stay true to the New York and journalistic aspect of my initial dreams."

Favorite book? Quote?

"My favorite book is The Illustrated Man written by Ray Bradbury."

"My favorite quote is:

'Would I rather be feared or loved? Umm... easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.'
— Michael Scott"

Who has been the biggest influence on your life?

"Although it may be clichéd, my mother has been the biggest influence on my life because without her continual acceptance and support, I would not have made it to where I am. Raising two children as a single mother, she has also been a symbol of strength and I can only hope to one day be as courageous and intelligent as she is."

Have you been a part of any service activities that were meaningful to you?

"As a freshman, I participated in a service event that the College held at a food shelter and helped to distribute food to those in need. This experience really touched me because as an aspiring journalist, my goal ultimately is to help the community and coming into direct contact with those who need help was particularly moving."

If you had to give one reason for a student to choose St. Joseph’s College, what would it be?

"I would refer a student to St. Joseph's College because aside from the academic benefits, SJC offers a sense of community that is important in helping students transition to college, many of which are moving away from their family and friends."

Who is your favorite SJC professor?

"Professor Burke is my favorite professor because although philosophy tends to be dense and hard to grasp at times, he caters to the students by teaching it in a way that makes it easier for everyone to absorb."

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

"If a movie were to be made based on my life it would be a comedy, so Meryl Streep would play my role because she's probably the most inaccurate representation of myself."

What do you do in your spare time?

"I spend my spare time playing my guitar and love to write songs."

What have you learned about yourself during your time at SJC?

"During my time at SJC, I learned that there are things that I don't know, and things that I don't even know that I don't know."

What was the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

"The biggest challenge I've had to overcome was learning to find balance because although academics are my number one priority, it's important to have a healthy social life outside of school, too."

What is the best advice someone has ever given you?

"The best advice I've received was given to me by my best friend back home. ‘Fake it 'til you make it’ was his motto and sure enough, I've found that this confidence (whether it be genuine or not) has granted me many opportunities that I may have otherwise not gotten."

What is the best lesson a professor taught you in class?

"The best lesson that a professor has taught me in class was that you can't build anything worthwhile on a lousy foundation. Although the professor was referring to the structure an argument, I found that this lesson could also be applicable as a metaphor to many endeavors in life."

If you made front page news, what would be the headline?

"If I made front page news, I would be the writer of the article rather than the star of it."

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Esse non videri — “To be, not to seem.”

The mission of St. Joseph’s College is to provide a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, rooted in a liberal arts tradition that supports provision for career preparation and enhancement. READ OUR FULL MISSION.